Interpol says terrorist and cyber threats increasing at sports events

The Secretary General for Interpol spoke on Tuesday of his concern for cyber security and terrorist threats hanging over major international sporting events.

These include the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Speaking on the margins of a security conference in Doha, where the FIFA World Cup is to be held in 2022, Jurgen Stock indicated a “spectrum of threats” for event stakeholders to be aware of in any given case.

Mr Stock told the press, “However, unfortunately these threats are on the increase. This has become international and more complex and necessitates, more than ever, cooperation between law enforcement agencies.”

Mr Stock cited the recent threats such as hooliganism during Euro 2016, cybercrimes at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016, as well as information on the risk of terrorist attacks during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The last event is due to take place in Russia.

For his part, Hassan al-Thawadi, the head of the FIFA World Cup Organising Committee in Qatar, asserted that his country would be organising a highly “secure” event in 2022.

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